SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell praised his team’s character after they were able to grind out a 7-6 win over Guildford Flames.

Nell’s hat-trick, Malasinski’s double plus Mark Smith and Jan Kostal’s single efforts were enough to claim a narrow win.

The Wildcats were able to come back from behind four times over the course of the game, before Malasinski grabbed a late winner.

The game also saw Sam Bullas sent to the lockeroom for leaving the bench after Max Birbraer got involved in a fight with Marek Maslonka, which earned him two plus two for fighting. 

Man of the match Nell was delighted with his team’s performance and highlighted the importance of home wins if they are to have a successful season.

“It’s massively important, last season we won 20 games out of 27 games at home but if we want to improve on last season we are going to have to win 20 or more games.

“The last two weeks, we haven’t been the best at home, we showed good character at times tonight and we weren’t perfect but we worked hard.

“That was the hardest we have worked at home since we played Telford and we showed a lot of character because that is a desperate team (Guildford) over there.

“Some of them are playing for their jobs, we are feeling good and doing well so to show that character of coming back in games, not going down, was great to see.

“We are very happy and now we have to go to Hull and try and get another win.”

After a highly competitive game, Nell admitted a narrow win is that little bit sweeter in comparison to previous results.

“They feel good afterwards, you can sit down after look at each other in the eye, you’re knackered but you give them a nod," he added.

“People put a big shift in tonight, especially when you are playing Guildford - don’t let their league position deceive you, they are still a very good team.

“They have spent an awful lot of money and they came hard tonight, it's not very often they’ll come that hard, they were very desperate tonight.

“They played a decent game but I think we were just a little bit better in key areas.”

Nell’s side now face a tough test as they have to travel to high flying Hull Pirates.